On Monday, October 21, 2024, the Arizona Daily Star published an opinion piece from Wes Oswald, an elementary teacher in Tucson Unified School District, urging voters to reject the retention of Arizona Supreme Court Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King. Oswald’s article emphasized concerns over the justices’ involvement in decisions that he argues have undermined public education funding and voter initiatives.
Oswald recounted his experiences during the 2018 REDforEd movement, where he participated in a large-scale march to the Arizona Capitol advocating for increased funding for public schools. He described this event as a pivotal moment in his civic engagement, reflecting a collective demand for change in Arizona’s education system. Following the walkout, Oswald joined the Invest in Education initiative, which aimed to generate additional funding for schools through a tax on the wealthiest Arizonans.
Despite the initiative, which garnered significant public support and was approved by voters during the pandemic, Oswald noted that it was never implemented. He attributed this to Bolick’s actions on the Supreme Court, claiming that the justice used his position to overturn the will of the voters regarding the funding measure.
Oswald further criticized Bolick for his prior affiliation with the Goldwater Institute, describing it as a right-wing organization opposed to tax increases. He asserted that Bolick’s judicial decisions have consistently favored policies that benefit wealthier individuals at the expense of public education funding. In addition, he highlighted Bolick and King’s role in supporting Governor Doug Ducey’s flat tax proposal, which he argues disproportionately affects public education financing.
The piece also addressed the justices’ stance on tax measures, stating that Bolick and King were part of a ruling that deemed tax initiatives immune from voter repeal. This decision prevented voters from having a say on Ducey’s flat tax, which Oswald claims has detrimental effects on state revenue and education funding.
In addition to education issues, Oswald expressed alarm over the justices’ involvement in reinstating Arizona’s 1864 total abortion ban. He characterized this ruling as part of a broader trend of judicial decisions that have eroded reproductive rights in the state.
Oswald called for voters to take advantage of the upcoming election to challenge the conservative majority on the Arizona Supreme Court. He urged the public to vote “do not retain” for Justices Bolick and King and to oppose Proposition 137, which seeks to eliminate the right to vote on judicial retention.
Source: Arizona Daily Star
